Simmons likes fit with Arizona State

GREEN BAY (WLUK) -- Jaddan Simmons has been one of the best high school girls basketball players in at least Northeast Wisconsin, if not the state, the last past two seasons and last week the senior-to-be at Green Bay Southwest made a verbal commitment to play collegiately at Arizona State.

She picked the Sun Devils over the likes of Wisconsin, Utah, Nebraska, Northwestern, Illinois and Kansas State, and said a main draw of going to Arizona State is the coaching staff.

"I'm going to get pushed the most there and I just love the coaching staff," she said. "Just getting to know them over the years has been really amazing. I think I've grown the closest to them. I just love Arizona State as well."

Arizona State finished 22-11 last season and lost in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Simmons, who averaged 21.4 points per game last season, likes the pace of play the Sun Devils utilize as it usually results in court time for much of the roster.

"I know everybody mostly gets a chance to play there because of the way they sub," Simmons said. "They're in the PAC-12, so I know it's going to be, I think it's the hardest conference. I know it's going to be tough, so I'm excited for that."

Simmons follows in the footsteps of her parents, who each attended Arizona State. Her father, Jason, the defensive backs coach for the Packers, played football at ASU.

"They were really good at saying, 'Go where you want go,'" Simmons said. "My dad didn't step into the process. He wanted me to do it on my own until I was ready to commit. They didn't tell me this school was better, or this school was better. It as just my decision."